Big Ideas: Concentrates on the elements of art and principles of design through basic drawing techniques and materials. Students will develop technical skills while exploring composition and expression through the process of various art making techniques. 

• Emphasis on two-dimensional drawing skills and application of the elements of art and principles of design
• Practice and study of a variety of art processes, techniques and materials
• Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork - drawing, painting, printmaking, design, sculpture and art history
• Introduction to color theory

Prerequisite: Art I
Big Ideas: Focuses on the exploration of various mediums in the art making process. Students will continue the study and practice of the elements of art and principles of design. Lectures will cover art theory with focus on composition, scale relationship to image size and mixed media manipulation.

• Observational study skills: landscape, portraiture and still life
• Develop two-dimensional drawing and painting skills with a focus in mark-making and color theory
• Explore the world of drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media
• Expand knowledge of digital media in combination with traditional mediums
• Produce a variety of projects that investigate self-expression and experimentation through an art historical context
• Emphasis on two-dimensional and three-dimensional foundation
• Participate in Art and Design college presentations, visiting artists’ lectures and demonstrations, as well as various art related career opportunities

Prerequisite: Art I and Art II
Big Ideas: Develop drawing skills using a variety of mediums to investigate perceptual drawing, mark-making, formal compositions, and additive and subtractive drawing techniques. Students will also examine color theory, foreground, middle ground and background by use of layered materials. Students will create works of art by means of representing the landscape, environment, still life, portrait and anatomical figure studies. Focus will be on the art styles. Lectures will cover an art historical context in drawing and painting with focus on visual analysis between formal and conceptual practices.

• Weekly sketchbook assignments will be essential to the development of individual expression: brainstorming ideas, representing thought process and investigating image making
• Observational exercises and preliminary drawings will facilitate all projects
• Explore a variety of surfaces, textures, and colors to investigate the elements and principles of design
• Apply an art-historical context to processes and concepts explored
• Engage in visiting artists’ lectures and demonstrations
• Create a finished portfolio of 15-20 artworks for college admission in a Visual Arts Program
• Develop and activate the creative process of self-expression: focus on individual studio practices with a strong studio work ethic
• Participate in weekly group critiques and individual critiques

Prerequisites: Those students wishing to take Advanced Placement (AP^®)-level courses will have demonstrated intellectual scholarship in the subject and have received prior written approval from the department chair. Students should have taken three previous art classes prior to taking AP^® Studio Art.
Requirement: Digital Submission of the AP^® Studio Art Portfolio is the final Exam. The portfolio submission is mandatory. The cost is approximately $95.
Big Ideas: Provides students an opportunity to explore, create and develop a body of work. Students creating the portfolios are invested in ideation, concept, process and technique. AP  Studio Art is not evaluated by a written exam, rather a portfolio submission of two required parts: Quality and Sustained Investigations. The portfolio(s) are submitted for evaluation at the end of the school year. AP  Studio Art intensive work ethic will guide the development of creative analysis and intellectual awareness of aesthetic sensibilities. The foundation of this course allows each individual to build her visual language, concepts and skills necessary in a collegiate environment. Students are encouraged to practice independent research, in-class writing, collaborative conferencing, self-assessment and reflection with attention to a critical thought process. The instructional goals of the AP  curriculum are as follows:

• Guide methods of creating art through a woven structure of both formal and conceptual practices
• Help develop a relationship between the formal and conceptual issues; how idea and process informs one another
• Guide in investigating conceptual art theory in relationship to art making processes
• Encourage the development of independent projects based on idea development through individual research 46
• Promote creative thinking and visual problem-solving
• Engage in thoughtful and relative critiques using an art historical context and contemporary visual language
• Inspire collaborative and outreach projects connected to the Saint Joseph Academy community and beyond
• Investigate conceptual art theory in relationship to art making processes
• Create two parts to your portfolio: Quality and Sustained Investigations
• Two-dimensional figurative drawing will include anatomical, gesture and experimental
• Collaborative and outreach projects connected to the Saint Joseph Academy community and beyond
• Develop and activate the creative process of self-expression: focus on individual studio practices with a strong studio work ethic
• Participate in scheduled Art and Design college presentations and visiting artists’ lectures and demonstrations
• Apply for college merit scholarships and scholastic national/state competitions
• Development of professional practices: create an artist statement and letter of intent, learn how to label artwork, print business cards and collate a printed catalog highlighting the strongest work

Prerequisite: Art I
Big Ideas: This course focuses on the elements of art and principles of three-dimensional design within the context of sculpture and ceramics. Emphasis is placed on finding relationships between form, surface, texture and color. Students will produce both additive and subtractive sculptures and ceramics. Clay forming processes include coil building and slab construction. Lectures will cover historical and contemporary work in clay and sculpture. Students will learn how to apply the physical process of making and connecting it with diverse ideas and concepts. Sketchbook assignments will be essential to the development of individual expression: brainstorming ideas, representing thought process and investigating image making.

• Explore basic hand-building techniques in clay: coiling, pinching, slabbing and molding
• Explore surface texture and glazing
• Develop and activate the creative process of self-expression: focus is placed on the student’s individual studio work ethic and collaborative learning environment
• Develop a visual language that connects to three-dimensional design
• Construct functional and non-functional artwork

Prerequisites: Due to the cumulative nature of this class, students MUST pass Art I and Ceramics I with a grade of A- or higher.
Big Ideas: Designed as a second level course, which will address the use of ceramics and sculptural processes in a more conceptual manner than the introductory course. Students will explore, in-depth, the communicative and expressive elements of form, texture and space. Students will also refine their observational skills, building a practical understanding of how to think and communicate in three dimensions. This class will consist of lectures, discussions, demonstrations, critiques, problem-solving assignments and primarily, supervised studio work which will broaden the understanding of ceramic use and the role it occupies in the contemporary art world.

• Discover advanced hand-building techniques in clay, including molding and casting, extruded form, scale manipulation and multiples
• Exploration of glaze techniques and usage
• Construct functional and nonfunctional artwork
• Expansion of the understanding of how process informs the content
• Build skills and confidence in verbal and written articulation of your own work

Prerequisites:  Successful completion of Ceramics I, II a grade of A- or higher and teacher approval.
Big Ideas: Provides for students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing one or more Ceramics content areas in greater depth. The teacher will act as a facilitator and heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and experimentation. Requirements include travel and time commitments outside of the regular school day in addition to daily scheduled class time. Students in Independent Study will focus on one or more projects/ competitions, which may include, but are not limited to: 

• Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
• Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition
• Other juried exhibitions that change on an annual basis

Prerequisite: Art I or Graphic Design I
Big Ideas: Establishes an initial working relationship with basic materials, processes and studio practice in threedimensional design. Students will learn to utilize visual elements and design principles in manipulating space and creating three-dimensional forms 

• To provide students with knowledge of the technical processes and vocabulary associated with three-dimensional forms
• To develop students' ability to analyze and discuss three-dimensional works 
• To assist in exploring those individual and cultural issues which influence art, artists and three-dimensional environments
• To reveal and cultivate students' powers of imagination, creativity and ability to conceptualize in three dimensions

Big Ideas: Introduces digital photographic equipment, theory and processes. Upon completion, students should be able to successfully expose, digitally manipulate and print a well-conceived composition. How digital photography impacts visual literacy and how to analyze and interpret photographs will also be explored.

• Master fundamental photographic skills including digital capture, manipulation and output, including large-format printing on a state-of-the-art printer system
• Explore the basics of Adobe Photoshop  for the processing and enhancement of digital photographs
• Develop tools for the making of photographs within the context of the aesthetics of photography
• Explore the basics of composition, motion, light and the aesthetics of the medium
• Analyze the cultural phenomenon of photography and how the photograph is perceived by society and our culture
• Complete regular shooting assignments to learn how to think critically and how to create images that tell a story to the viewer
• Explore the fine art of making a digital print and learning critical workflow techniques

Prerequisites: Photography I
Big Ideas: Takes the art of visual storytelling to an exciting level. Students will spend equal time outside and in the “Digital Darkroom,” combining their knowledge of the camera with techniques of processing and enhancing their images using Adobe Photoshop^®. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the field of digital filmmaking, telling a story as they plan, shoot and edit a short digital film.

• Create and curate a working portfolio of digital and printed photographs
• Delve deeply into the processes and ethics of digital photo manipulation
• Encourage creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues
• Develop technical skills and become familiar with the functions of the visual elements
• Discuss the cultural phenomenon of photography and how the photograph impacts society and culture
• Understand how to create storyboards from scripts
• Learn how to use digital camera and sound equipment
• Learn how to work individually and in crews

Prerequisites: Completion of Photography I and II with a B or higher and/or teacher approval.
Big Ideas: Provides students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing the Photography content area in greater depth. The teacher will act as a facilitator but heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and visual problem-solving. Good time management and self-direction is a must. This class can be repeated with approval from the instructor.

Big Ideas: Graphic Design is the art of visual communication through the use of text, images and symbols. Graphic Designers use the elements and principles of design along with software and hand skills to create and combine text, graphics and photography to solve visual problems. Students will learn to create various types of projects such as posters, CD covers and t-shirt designs, as well as how to manipulate and correct photos. Primarily associated with two-dimensional images, it includes:

• Manipulate images as well as correct images in Adobe Photoshop^®
• Create original vector art using Adobe Illustrator^®
• Learn the process of written and verbal critique 
• Explore layout and composition, typography and color 
• Explore the art of craftsmanship and the presentation of visual solutions

Prerequisite: Graphic Design I
Big Ideas: Continues what was begun in Graphic Design I—developing the skills and techniques needed to produce quality designs, solving real world design problems, participate in design competitions, as well as producing a portfolio. 

• Learn advanced applications of the programs Adobe Illustrator^® and Adobe Photoshop^®
• Use the Makerspace innovation lab in the development of projects
• Explore branding and identity design, advirtisement and three-dimensional design

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Graphic Design I and II with a B or higher. This class can be repeated with approval from the teacher.
Big Ideas: Provides students who have demonstrated an interest in pursuing the graphic design content area in greater depth. The teacher will act as a facilitator but heavy emphasis will be on independent inquiry, research and visual problem-solving. Good time management and self-direction is a must.

(Offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:05-3:45, Monday and Friday during Activity Blocks)

Yearbook may be taken as a Visual Arts course or English elective. Students should work with their guidance counselor and the Yearbook moderator to determine which choice is best for them.

Yearbook may be taken as a standard letter grade, A-F or Pass/Fail. Students wishing to take the course P/F are required to complete the Pass/Fail Waiver and inform the teacher that they would like to take the course P/F within the first two weeks of the course.
Big Ideas: Uses Walsworth Online Design (or Adobe InDesigna nd Adobe Photosho) to produce the school yearbook. Highly self-motivated students are asked to work in an independent, collaborative environment, applying acquired design, journalism, organizational and problem-solving skills to the real world issues involved with printed publications such as fixed deadlines, precise proofreading and shared leadership.

• Create industry standard layouts
• Photo enhancement and correction
• Learn and apply interviewing, writing, editing and proofreading skills
• Work collaboratively on tight deadlines
• Yearbook can be taken multiple years for credit